THE OBSESSION PARADOX || BOYXBOY DARK ROMANCE

39. Alex

It's been a month since that fateful night when Ryan stormed out of our home, leaving me shattered and sleepless. I spent the endless hours gazing out the window, my heart racing with every creak of the door, hoping for his return. But he didn't come back until dawn, his silence deafening as he retreated to a separate room.

Since then, our home has been a cold, hollow space. Ryan's absence pierces my soul, his silence a heavy weight that crushes me. Every morning, I cook breakfast, a futile attempt to reconnect, but he ignores my efforts. He prepares his own meals, eats in solitude, and only emerges to wash the dishes, our eyes never meeting.

Our intimacy has become a distant memory. Twice in this desolate month, he entered my room, his body seeking physical release, but his heart and soul were absent. The passion that once burned within him has been reduced to a mechanical act, devoid of whispers, kisses, or tender touches.

Ryan's habit of whispering 'I love you' during our most intimate moments has been replaced by an unsettling silence. He sheathed himself in a condom, a barrier between us, a stark reminder of the emotional distance growing between us. His eyes avoided mine, his thrusts mechanical, devoid of passion or connection.

And now, even that hollow intimacy has ceased. Ryan no longer seeks me out, leaving me to face the dark reality: he avoids me like the plague.

I walked into the kitchen to find Ryan cooking scrambled eggs. "I'll make burgers," I offered. "Do you want me to add tomatoes?" I asked, but he ignored me.

He transferred the eggs to his plate and sat down to eat, silence radiating from him like a shield.

"I need money for art supplies," I started to say. "I'll pay you back when I get my paycheck—" But I couldn't finish.

Ryan pulled out a card from his wallet and handed it to me without a word. He ate his meal, then left the kitchen, leaving me with a deepening sense of frustration.

I vowed to myself: no apology would pass my lips for that night. The rift between us would not be bridged by my submission.

I spent the night tossing and turning, unable to shake off the restlessness. Desperate for distraction, I crept to Ryan's room, pressing my ear against the door to gauge his activity. The silence was deafening.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and I lost my balance, tumbling onto him. Ryan's eyes flashed anger as he struggled to free himself from beneath me.

"What the hell were you doing outside my room at this hour?" he growled.

I scrambled for a plausible excuse. "I was checking if you needed your water jar refilled. I was heading down to get some water myself."

Ryan's expression remained skeptical. With a curt movement, he pushed me out and slammed the door shut.

I decided to take a stand and brought Charles, the stray dog Ryan disliked, into our home. I ordered a kennel online and welcomed Charles with open arms.

Ryan returned from work, saw Charles eating from his bowl, and merely raised an eyebrow. "What the fuck?" he muttered, ignoring me and Charles as he headed upstairs.

I followed, blocking his attempt to close the door. "Charles is staying. I feel bad leaving him outside in the rain. And I used your card to order the kennel and dog food."

But my words trailed off as I spotted a lipstick stain on Ryan's collar. My anger flared.

"Whose lipstick is this?" I demanded, grabbing a cloth to examine it closer. Ryan's evasive eyes sparked my suspicions.

"Are you cheating on me?" I pressed, my voice rising.

Ryan shed his coat, attempting to shut the door, but I pushed inside.